‘Prelude to a Kiss’ marks new beginnings, ends
By Abby Intveld, St. Louis Park High School
May 17, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
With her four years of theater coming to a close, senior Zoey Zachek said the spring play indicates the end of her thespian career at Park. “It’s really crazy because I’m one of the seniors who has been in the program all of high school. So to see the different people cycle through and see...
Avengers: Endgame smashes pre-sales records on way to Box Office
By Cody Bowers, Woodside High School
May 16, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
Avengers: Endgame, the latest film in the critially acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universe, has achieved the best pre-sales record of any movie ever and is on course to break many more records after its release. Many fans are eagerly anticipating the new movie’s release on April 26, 2019, which will c...
‘ANONYMOUS’ proves Blackbear deserves to be quite the opposite in the music industry
By Alex Miranda, Downers Grove South High School
May 15, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
On April 26, 2019, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Blackbear dropped his fifth studio album “ANONYMOUS” to his long-awaiting fans. Originally scheduled to come out on Valentine's Day, the album was pushed back by Interscope Records after he signed onto the label late last year. Expectations were...
Everything You Missed In Taylor Swift’s “ME!” Music Video
By Taila Lee, Woodside High School
May 15, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
Pop star Taylor Swift is back with her new single “ME!” featuring lead singer Brendon Urie from Panic! At The Disco, sending fans to scour her new music video for clues about her seventh album. The music video premiered April 26, 2019, and its 65.2 million views quickly broke YouTube’s record...
Music at Mason: finding a niche
By Sequoia Wyckoff, George Mason High School
May 15, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
Senior Claudia Gusman has been a percussionist since eighth grade; Senior Charlotte Crum has been playing saxophone since sixth. They’re both in wind ensemble and have been in the pit orchestra for years. On top of that, Gusman spent two years in Drums class and Crum is in jazz band. “I’m gl...
Artist Spotlight: Matthew Millin
By Clara Koritz Hawkes, Walt Whitman High School
May 15, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
When junior Matthew Millin was five years old, he was sure he had stage fright. Even though he’d grown up putting on shows with his cousins for his family—they’d create a makeshift stage out of their grandparents’ brown leather couch and take turns singing songs—he was sure if he tried theater...
Thespians go to state and qualify for nationals
By Liz Blodgett, Tigard High School
May 14, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
From the opening lights to the final bow, the Tigard Thespian Troupe stick together through every play, achievement, and competition. This year, 15 members of the troupe had the opportunity to perform at the state competition. The competition, filled with performances, auditions, and learning...
A household in harmony
By Jessica Moonjely, West High School
May 14, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
Having a professional musician as a father, it is no surprise that Phoebe Burt ‘21 was humming before she could talk. Phoebe and Kevin Burt discuss how music has helped the two grow more in tune with one another. Standing onstage in front of a growing crowd of people, Kevin “B. F.” Burt is in...
Blindauer and Pisoni to Perform at Muny
By Kayla Schweitzer, Marquette High School
May 14, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
This summer, David Pisoni, junior, and Rebecca Blindauer, theater teacher, will be a part of theater productions at the largest outdoor theater in the nation: the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre (Muny). Pisoni was cast as part of the teen ensemble for “Kinky Boots,” one of the several shows the ...
Public Art Sparks National Controversy
By Grace Yarrow, Casa Grande High School
May 9, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
In 2005, the Petaluma Public Art Ordinance organized a “master plan” to implement a public art program in Petaluma. 14 years, $150,000, and one Wall Street Journal article later, Petaluma has received national attention for an art project involving five bathtubs on 17 to 23-foot poles. On March 14,...
Grace Kerner sculpts her ‘Simple Love’ of ceramics in senior art show
By Lola Lamberg and Ella Frey
May 1, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
The title of Archer senior Grace Kerner's April 11 senior show, "A Simple Love," was inspired by Kerner's passion for the art of ceramics. She has been working with clay for over 10 years. "I called [the show] 'A Simple Love' because I simply love ceramics," Kerner said. "I've been doing [ceramics]...
Review: ‘Shazam!’ shocks audiences with hilarious comedy, relatable characters
By Grant Vogel, Lovejoy High School
April 23, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
In DC movies, Superman causes billions of dollars of property damage in literal earth-shaking fight scenes. Aquaman fights poorly animated fish people in epic ”Lord of the Rings”-esque underwater battles. And Batman breaks his only rule in crime fighting by killing criminals in the most brutal, inhumane...
“Nine Perfect Strangers” satisfies, but doesn’t stun
By Eva Shen, Dougherty Valley High School
April 23, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
It might not be fair to compare Liane Moriarty’s latest novel to her past bestsellers, but “Nine Perfect Strangers” does not live up to expectations. Despite this, Moriarty manages to shape an enticing story and capture stirring ideas in her words. Moriarty typically shines when it comes to...
Head in the SoundCloud
By Alex Carlon, West High School
April 22, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
Disclaimer: some of the songs embedded in this article contain profane lyrics. Drake, Kanye West, Eminem: these are the names that come to mind when one thinks of “rap.” But, over the past few years, a new generation of homegrown hip-hop artists have risen onto the scene. They are known as Sound...
Campoverde wins prestigious Scholastic Gold Medal for artwork
By Jenna Coladarci, Danbury High School
April 19, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
Michael Obre has been a Danbury art teacher for 21 years and in that time, he had seen only two Danbury students be recognized nationally with a Scholastic Gold Medal. Now, however, he can add a third name to that list. After much hard work, senior Viviana Campoverde has been awarded a Scholastic Gold Medal for her digital art piece “Flower Child.” Since 1923, according t...
Orchestra student learns composition, pursues career
By Jose Garcia, Akins High School
April 19, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
Senior Melaina Newman has dreams to one day compose classical music that inspires other people as much as the great composers that inspire her. Composing is a relatively new endeavor for Newman, who has participated in orchestra four years and marching band two years at Akins. Newman said she felt...
Should Netflix films win Oscars?
By Andy Zabinski, Richard Montgomery High School
April 19, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
In the past few years Netflix has become a dominant force in releasing original content that has garnered some success at the Oscars and other award shows, most recently with the film Roma directed by Alfonso Cuarón. However, fan favorite director Steven Spielberg has criticized Netflix’s numerous wins a...
Holmes places first chair in state, keeps up with dynamics of music
By Sofia Guerrero, Coppell High School
April 19, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
Coppell High School senior Trevor Holmes sat anxiously in the lobby as he waited for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Convention chair placements to be released. Finally, the results were posted on a board and upon first glance, Holmes quickly found his name at the top, meaning he ...
The Magenta Shift evolves as rising student band
By Simon Beach, Harrisonburg High School
April 18, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
The Magenta Shift, formerly known as The Governeers, is the newest start-up band to walk the halls of Harrisonburg High School. The band includes juniors Leif McCoy, Forrest Matter and Declan Leach along with sophomore Stanley Inouye. The group has been together for a while, but has just recently...
Dance on
By Cassie Eskicioglu, Convent of the Sacred Heart High School
April 18, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
From late night dance classes to play and musical practices nearly all year round, “Love’s Labour’s Lost” marks the last high school play for one student choreographer and actor. Delaney Tobin began acting in theater in middle school and since then has been in 13 shows ranging from “The...
Khalid Unites His Music With Cinema in “Free Spirit”
By Taila Lee, Woodside High School
April 14, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
When I first heard Khalid was making a short film based on his new album, I was instantly intrigued. One night only. In theaters. A fan event. Based on his sophomore album Free Spirit, his film— also titled Free Spirit —was shown in theaters two days before his official album release on April 5. ...
ALBUM REVIEW: “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” by Billie Eilish
By Alex Rozar, Lafayette High School
April 14, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
On her debut album "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?", 17-year-old artist Billie Eilish has proved herself a force to be reckoned with. Wait, what? Yes, you read that right. SEVENTEEN. Despite being younger than many of the students at Lafayette right now, Eilish has 16 million Instagram followers,...
‘Us’ doubles down on mystery and horror
By Ian Fertig, Starr's Mill High School
April 11, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
They think like you. They look like you. They want to kill you. When their doubles attack, a family bands together to stay alive. But can they defeat themselves? So goes the plot of “Us,” the second horror/thriller film written and directed by Jordan Peele following the Oscar-nominated “Get...
School hosts “Rushmore” 20th Anniversary Viewing
By Ryan Chang and Megan Chang
April 10, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
Between winning the Silver Bear for Best Director for Isle of Dogs and working on The French Dispatch, director Wes Anderson (’87) continues to make a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s most creative, visually distinct filmmakers. For members of the SJS community, the past week also brought ...
Rock and Roll Here to Stay, With Help of The Loops
By Addy Bates, Cedar Park High School
April 10, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
With the inspiration from famous bands such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd and even Van Halen, a local band formed by four juniors hopes to make their dreams of being successful musicians become a reality. The Loops, consisting of singer and lead guitarist Luke Ferguson, singer and bassist Jonathan Khadivi,...
Jordan Peele’s Us is a funhouse of thrills and horrors
By Kevin Pizano, Harrisonburg High School
April 9, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
America was not prepared for the frighteningly relevant film Get Out. Writer-director Jordan Peele’s Get Out was a horror satire that sharply explored racial relations in America. The film garnered Peele an Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay and became a cultural phenomenon with critics and audien...
Billie Eilish Stuns With a Haunting Debut Album
By Taila Lee, Woodside High School
April 9, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
“I’ve taken out my Invisalign, and this is the album.” Billie Eilish, a bold, blue-haired 17-year-old from Los Angeles, released her debut album WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? on March 29, 2019, quickly obtaining the top five spots on the U.S. Spotify charts. Eilish first rose to fame with her dreamy single “ocean eyes” in 2015, followed by her 201...
Book review: “The Waning Age” is a lackluster novel about emotion
By Edward Keen, West High School
April 5, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
Emotions. It goes without saying that our emotions, our inner feelings and our sensations, are a main proprietor in making us who we are. We use them during every moment of our life, whether they be the stronger ones you feel in a more pointed situation or feeling more tepid emotions in a casual sce...
Non-drama students join cast of recent school play
By Mia Taylor, Granite Bay High School
April 5, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
The drama program has never failed to deliver a show loaded with talented performers. In their most recent production, She Kills Monsters, viewers were pleasantly surprised to watch many new faces take on the big stage alongside some of Granite Bay Theater’s star actors and actresses. Unfamiliar...
RDR2: Good Cinema Does Not Replace Good Gameplay
By Caden Brooks, Tyrone Area High School
April 4, 2019
Filed under Arts & Entertainment
Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 is a colossal disappointment, and surely not a masterpiece. “Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece. 10/10...” wrote just about every video game critic on the internet. What? Has everyone been brainwashed? With all of the extremely high critical acclaim, it was natura...